Eddie Nketiah embraces faith and resilience on his football journey

LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 8: Eddie Nketiah of Crystal Palace smiles one day of the Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Ipswich Metropolis FC at Selhurst Park on March 8, 2025 in London, United Kingdom. (Describe by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)

Eddie Nketiah’s rise to the tip has been anything but straightforward, but the Crystal Palace forward credits his faith, tough work, and Ghanaian roots for shaping his success.

Born in Lewisham, Increased London, to Ghanaian folks, Nketiah grew up in Deptford, where he first developed his delight in for football. He joined Chelsea’s academy at nine whereas taking half in for Hillyfielders but faced an early setback when the club launched him in 2015. Alternatively, Arsenal saw his means, and he made his first-group debut in 2017. He also had a mortgage spell at Leeds United, where he contributed to their Championship-a hit campaign.

Talking as half of NBC Sports’ By Design of Africa series, Nketiah mirrored on his upbringing and the values instilled in him.

“My mother and pop maintain constantly told me to maintain self belief in myself, in my abilities, and as well to maintain faith in God. That’s been a if reality be told gigantic half of my upbringing, and I believe that resilience and tenacity diagram from there,” he acknowledged.

“While that you would be capable to maintain that self belief in your self and belief in God, even as you work as tough as you’re going to have the means to, alternatives will constantly come up. I’ve constantly known that issues are by no methodology going to diagram support straightforward in existence, and or no longer it will probably be very necessary work for them. Nonetheless even as you work tough ample, there’s constantly a reward on the opposite facet,” he added.